Syringe bin program
Loddon Shire Council’s diabetic sharps container exchange program is fully funded by Council. Loddon Shire residents that have diabetes or a medical need to use a sharps container are encouraged to access this service.
Exchange sites
In partnership with community service providers, a number of exchange sites have been established within the Shire to assist residents in accessing this important program.
All of the sites listed below are able to collect full containers and issue new containers:
- Loddon Shire Council Office, 41 High Street, Wedderburn
- Boort Resource & Information Centre, 115 – 119 Godfrey Street, Boort
- Inglewood Guardian Pharmacy, 54 Brooke Street, Inglewood
- Pyramid Hill Pharmacy Depot, 13 Kelly Street, Pyramid Hill
- Dingee Bush Nursing Centre, 21 King Street, Dingee
If you have any questions about the service please contact the Public Health Officer on (03) 5494 1200.
Important points to returning your sharps container
Prior to returning a container for disposal, please ensure the following checks are carried out:
- the container is securely closed
- the outside of the container is clean
- the container is not damaged in any way.
For the safety of staff, containers that do not meet the above criteria cannot be taken by the exchange sites.
Safe medical waste disposal
Items which may be disposed of through Council’s sharps containers service includes all contaminated medical waste.
For someone living with diabetes, this medical waste could include:
- finger pricking device (lancet)
- test strips from your blood glucose monitor
- insulin syringes and needles.
Why should a sharps container be used?
An approved sharps container should be used to protect yourself, your family and others from injury or the spread of infectious disease.
What is the correct way to dispose of medical waste?
The correct way is in an approved sharps container. These containers are clearly labelled with the word ‘sharps’, they display the Bio-Hazard symbol, are yellow in colour and made of an indestructible plastic.
Disposal of your medical waste especially sharps in household refuse bins is prohibited.
Dumping of this type of waste at a landfill site (tip) is also prohibited under the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009.